Clay Pigeon Target Holders

ABSTRACT

A clay pigeon target support apparatus comprises an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material configured to provide resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circular ridge disposed on a forward face of the clay pigeon target. First and second ends of the open ring are disposed substantially along radii of the ring separated by an acute angle. A support member integral with the first end of the open ring extends outward from the first end substantially along a radial of the open ring. Spring tension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon target retains the clay pigeon target within the open ring.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present non-provisional application for patent is related topreviously filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/995,243 filed Jan.21, 2020 and entitled “Clay pigeon target holders” [sic], and topreviously filed U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 16/974,399filed Jan. 14, 2021 and entitled “Clay pigeon target holders” [sic], nowboth abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns apparatus associated with clay pigeontarget shooting, often known as “skeet” shooting, and more particularlyconcerns support devices for holding clay pigeon targets in a fixedposition as opposed to being launched as a moving target.

2. Background of the Invention

Skeet shooting typically involves launching target objects that simulategame birds such as doves or pigeons to provide a moving target forshooters to practice their technique. A wide variety of launchingdevices are available for use in such practice. Moving targets such asclay pigeons, typically about the size and shape of a hockey puck, areformed of a clay material that shatters when struck by a bullet or otherprojectile from a gun, bow, slingshot, or other similar device. Theshattered target indicates a successful shot.

Shooting for practice is not limited to moving targets, however.Practice shooting at stationary targets can be useful in improving ashooter's accuracy. There are presently available several types ofholders for supporting clay pigeon targets. The conventional holders aregenerally formed as a stake for supporting the target on the ground. Theclay pigeon is then cradled in a Y-shaped or V-shaped figure disposed atthe upper end of the stake. In such devices the clay pigeon is notsecurely supported and susceptible to falling off under windy conditionsor other types of disturbance. In other examples the stake may beunstable or is limited in how the clay pigeon target may be positionedfor practice.

What is needed is a clay pigeon target holder that holds the targetsecurely and provides greater versatility in how the target may bepositioned to adapt the shooter's practice to a wider range of targetshooting experiences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clay pigeon target support apparatus is disclosed, comprising an openring formed of a thin, rigid, elastic material configured to provideresilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or innerdiameter of a circular ridge disposed on one face of the clay pigeontarget; wherein first and second ends of the open ring are disposedsubstantially along radii of the ring and separated by an acute angle. Afirst support member integral with the first end of the open ringextends outward from the first end toward a distal end of the supportmember and substantially along a radial of the open ring, wherein springtension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon targetretains the clay pigeon target within the open ring.

In one aspect the open ring and the first support member may be formedof a single piece of the thin, rigid material.

In another aspect the open ring may be coated with a non-slip material.

In another aspect the distal end of the first support member includes ablade attached to the bottom or distal end of the first support memberand shaped to extend laterally from the bottom end of the first supportmember, thereby enabling the first support member to resist rotation dueto wind or an off-center hit to the clay pigeon target.

In another aspect a small panel may be attached to the first supportmember between the bottom or distal end of the first support member andthe open ring, wherein a company logo or other symbol may be attached tothe small panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support inaccordance with one embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support inaccordance with a second embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the claimed invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the claimed inventiondepicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the claimedinvention depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the claimed invention depictedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the claimed invention depictedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 8 through thesection A-A;

FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the claimedinvention depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the alternateembodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an advance in the state of the art, a clay pigeon target supportdevice is disclosed that includes several novel features, heretofore notknown to be available, which substantially improve its function andversatility. These features enable the support device to be adapted to avariety of placements, thereby providing a more useful and interestingtarget practice experience for shooters, regardless of whether they areusing guns, bows or crossbows, or slingshots, for example.

The invention arose from recognizing several needs of skeet shooters andother persons who need targets for practicing their shooting skills. Oneof the needs is to recycle clay pigeons used in skeet shooting for reusethat were launched but not damaged, falling to the earth and oftendiscarded and, because they are biodegradable, left to decay where theyfell. Another need is to provide a more suitable shooting target forpractice than bottles, metal cans, and other discarded containers. Suchobjects are often used but are inconvenient to support, are notbiodegradable, and are difficult to retrieve for disposal, etc. Anotherneed is to provide a standard type of target for competition shooting,either formal or informal, in which the target is supported in astationary position and which can be easily replaced when the target isdamaged. This form of competition can accommodate a variety of shootingdevices—guns, bow & arrow, slingshots, and even throwing by hand. Thus,the present invention permits substantial expansion of the potentialuses of clay pigeon targets, whether obtained new or retrieved fromskeet shooting sessions. The invention provides a practical andconvenient way to support a clay pigeon target to satisfy the exemplaryneeds enumerated herein.

The invention comprises an open ring formed of a thin, rigid, elasticmaterial such as metal or an engineered plastic that is formedintegrally with a support member extending radially from one of the openends of the ring to a distal end. The clay pigeon target support orholder is shaped somewhat like a question mark without the period belowits lower extremity. The ring portion, preferably formed in one end ofthe thin, rigid, and elastic material, is open along a small part of itscircumference. The ring portion thus provides resilient support to gripa clay pigeon target around an outer or inner diameter of a circularridge, which is typically disposed on a forward face of the clay pigeontarget. The first and second ends of the open ring are alignedsubstantially along radii of the ring that are separated by an acuteangle. The open ring and support member may be formed of a single pieceof the thin, rigid, elastic material.

In use, the open ends of the ring may be separated slightly against thespring tension of the elastic ring material, the ring placed around theouter diameter of the circular ridge on the face of the clay pigeon, andthen relaxed so that the ring clamps the circular ridge of the claypigeon within it. On other types of clay pigeons, the open ends of thering may be squeezed slightly against the spring tension of the ringmaterial, and the ring placed within the inner diameter of the circularridge on the forward face of the clay pigeon. In clay pigeons without acircular ridge on one face, the target may be gripped by positioning thering around the perimeter of the clay pigeon. Then the support device,with the clay pigeon installed may be installed in the ground as shownin FIG. 10 by pushing the distal end of the support member into theground. It is then ready for use.

The clay target pigeon support described herein includes severalembodiments that differ as to form and function. Features referred to byidentical reference numbers identify features of the same form andfunction. Further, the clay pigeon target support device disclosedherein may include several optional features that expand its utility.One feature is (1) a hook device that may be attached to the supportmember so that the target support device can be hung from a branch of atree, bush, or other object to suspend the clay pigeon target aboveground level as shown in FIG. 11. Another feature is (2) ananti-rotation blade attached to the bottom end of the support memberthat extends laterally from a placement near the bottom end so that wheninserted in the ground the support device resists rotating in the windor rotating when a bullet or projectile strikes the clay pigeonoff-center. A third feature is (3) a small panel attached to the supportmember between the open ring and the bottom end to which may be attacheda company logo. An alternative embodiment places the small panel nearthe bottom end so that it may function as an anti-rotation blade.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support 10 inaccordance with one embodiment of the claimed invention. The targetsupport comprises an open ring 12 defined by a center 14 and first 16and second 18 ends. The first 16 and second 18 ends are separated,thereby defining an acute angle 20 with respect to the center 14. Theacute angle 20 can be any size from a few degrees to 90 degrees.However, an acute angle between 10 and 60 degrees has been found to beconvenient in use. A support member 22 extends from, and is preferablyintegral with, the first end 16 of the open ring 12. The clay pigeontarget support 10 may be formed of a single length of thin, rigid,resilient material such as metal or engineered plastic. One preferredmaterial is carbon steel spring wire or welding wire having a diameterof approximately 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch. In experiments it has beenfound that a ⅛ inch diameter resilient steel wire or rod issatisfactory. The length of the support member 22 from the first end 16of the open ring 12 to the distal end 46 of the support member 22 may beadjusted to suit the application, allowing enough to support the claypigeon above ground, and support a logo panel 96 (See FIG. 9), and notso long as to impair stability.

Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a typical example of a clay pigeon target100, a round disc 102 usually of a molded clay material that isbiodegradable. The disc 102 includes a forward face 104 and an outerperimeter 106. The forward face 104 of the clay pigeon target 100typically includes a raised circular ridge 108 centered on the forwardface 104 and of smaller diameter than the clay pigeon target 100. Theraised ridge 108 may include an outer edge 110 and an inner edge 112that extends a short distance away from the forward face 104. The outeredge 110 and the inner edge 112 provide a raised ledge that the openring 12 of the clay pigeon target can use to grasp the clay pigeontarget 100. In use, as will be described in FIGS. 10 and 11, the openring 12 of the target support 10 is placed around the outer border 110or within the inner border 112. To secure the clay pigeon target to theclay pigeon, the acute angle 20 of the open ring 12 of the targetsupport 10 may be respectively opened or closed against the springtension of the thin, rigid, resilient material used to form the openring 12. In the description that follows, the clay pigeon target 100itself is not part of the invention; rather, it is the work piece theinvention 10 is intended to be used with. Further, although also notmaterial to the invention, the reverse side of the disc 102 (not shown)may be hollow or formed as a shallow cup.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a clay pigeon target support 30 inaccordance with a second embodiment of the claimed invention. The claypigeon target support 30 is adapted for use by supporting the target byplacing the open ring 32 within the inner edge 112 of the clay pigeontarget 100. Note that the clay pigeon target 100 embodies the samefeatures and uses the same reference numbers as shown in FIG. 1.

The clay pigeon target support 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises anopen ring 32 defined by a center 34 and first 36 and second 38 ends. Thefirst 36 and second 38 ends are separated, thereby defining an acuteangle 40 with respect to the center 34. A support member 42 extendsfrom, and is preferably integral with, the first end 36 of the open ring32. The support member 42 includes an offset 44 configured to clear theraised ridge 108 of the clay pigeon target 100 when the open ring 32 ofthe target support 30 is installed on the forward face 104 of the claypigeon target 100. The clay pigeon target support 30 may also be formedof a single length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal orengineered plastic.

FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the claimed invention adaptedto support a clay pigeon target 100 in the earth's surface at a fixedorientation that resists rotation of the clay pigeon target 100 by windeffects or when the clay pigeon target 100 may be struck off-center by aprojectile. The open ring 26 of the clay pigeon target support 24 isprovided with a second leg or support member. The first support member28 and second support member 48 are respectively integral extensions ofthe first 16 and second 18 ends of the open ring 26. The first 28 andsecond 48 support members may be oriented substantially parallel witheach other. The clay pigeon target support 24 may also be formed of asingle length of thin, rigid, resilient material such as metal orengineered plastic.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the claimed invention, a claypigeon target support 50 that is closely similar to the clay pigeonsupport 10 of FIG. 1. The target support 50 is formed of an open ring 52having first 16 and second 18 open ends except that the lower end of thesupport member 54 is shaped with an integral hook 56. The hook 56, whichmay be formed from an extension of the thin, rigid resilient material ofthe open ring 52 and the support member 54, enables the clay pigeontarget 100 to be hung above the earth's surface from a tree branch orother similar object as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the claimed inventiondepicted in FIG. 4. The target support 60 is formed of an open ring 62having first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acute angle 20except that the lower end of the support member 64 is shaped with a hook66 attached to the lower end of the support member 64 by wrapping thejoined hook 66 and support member 64 with a length of tape or wire 68.The hook 66 enables the clay pigeon target 100 to be hung above theearth's surface from a tree branch or other similar object as shown inFIG. 11.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of the claimedinvention depicted in FIG. 5. The target support 70 is formed of an openring 72 having first 16 and second 18 open ends that define the acuteangle 20 except that the lower end of the support member 74 is shapedwith a hook 76 attached to the lower end of the support member 74 by asuitable adhesive or by welding or soldering the joined hook 76 to thesupport member 74. The hook 76 enables the clay pigeon target 100 to behung above the earth's surface from a tree branch or other similarobject as shown in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 depict alternate methods of providing a hook to supportthe clay pigeon target support 50, 60, or 70 above ground. Personsskilled in the art will realize that other methods may be adapted to thesame purpose depending on the circumstances the user wishes to adapt thetarget support to for shooting practice or competition.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support80 similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. The embodiment of FIG.7 is functionally similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3. The open ring 82of the target support 100 includes the first 16 and second 18 open endsthat define the acute angle 20. Instead of a second support memberhowever, the single support member 84 may be provided with a blade 86that, when the target support 80 is installed in the earth's surface,the blade 86 acts to resist the rotation of the clay pigeon target 100by wind effects or when the clay pigeon target 100 is struck off-centerby a projectile. The blade 86 may be formed in a variety of shapes aslong as the blade extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of thesupport member and is formed for being easily staked into the ground.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the clay pigeon target support90 similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 except that it ismodified by adding a logo panel 96 to the support member 94. The openring 82 of the target support 90 includes the first 16 and second 18open ends that define the acute angle 20. The logo panel 96, shown assection A-A in the figure, enables a user to affix a logo, tradename,icon or any other mark or symbol that represents an owner, a businessentity, an entry number during competition and the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 8 through thesection A-A that depicts an edgewise view from above of the logo panel96 attached to the support member 94 using a clip 98. The clip 98, whichmay take various forms as apparent to persons skilled in the art, may beattached to the logo panel 96 via an adhesive, for example.

One additional feature that may be incorporated into any of the claypigeon target supports illustrated and described herein is to coat theopen ring and support member(s) with a paint or epoxy coating to protectthe finish and to provide colored surfaces to assist in identifying thetarget supports. For example, colored target supports may be used todistinguish competitors, to locate target supports that become dislodgedfrom their supporting object, and other purposes. The coating materialmay also be selected to provide or treated with a non-slip surface thatmore readily grasps the raised ridges of the clay pigeon targets tosecure the clay pigeon targets within the open ring of the targetsupport.

FIG. 10 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the claimedinvention depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. The assembly first 130and second 140 clay pigeon target 100, installed in a clay pigeon targetsupport 10, are shown staked into the earth's surface 170.

FIG. 11 illustrates a pictorial view of a typical use of the alternateembodiment of the claimed invention depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Theassembly third 150 and fourth 160 clay pigeon target 100, installed in aclay pigeon target support 10, are shown hung from a branch 200 of atree supported by the earth's surface 180.

1. A clay pigeon target support apparatus, comprising: a resilient openring formed of a thin, rigid, resilient material configured to provideresilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outer or innerdiameter of a circular ridge disposed on one face of the clay pigeontarget; first and second ends of the resilient open ring disposedsubstantially along radii of the resilient open ring separated by anacute angle; and a first support member integral with the first end ofthe resilient open ring and extending outward from the first end towarda distal end of the first support member and substantially along aradial of the resilient open ring to the distal end; wherein springtension exerted by the resilient open ring upon the clay pigeon targetclamps the clay pigeon target within the resilient open ring.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein: the resilient open ring and the firstsupport member are formed as a single piece of the thin, rigid,resilient material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the thin,rigid, resilient material is carbon steel spring wire.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein: the resilient open ring and the first supportmember are formed from carbon steel spring wire having a cross-sectiondimension ranging between 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein: the resilient open ring and the first support memberare formed from the thin, rigid, resilient material having across-section selected from the group consisting of a circle, arectangle, a square, and a triangle.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein: the resilient open ring is coated with a non-slip substance. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the distal end of the first supportmember includes a blade disposed lateral to the longitudinal axis of thefirst support member to resist rotation of the first support memberabout the longitudinal axis.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: alogo panel is attached to the first support member between the resilientopen ring and the distal end; wherein a company logo or other symbol maybe attached to the logo panel.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: asecond support member integral with the second end of the resilient openring extends outward from the second end of the open ring; wherein thesecond support member is oriented substantially parallel to the firstsupport member.
 10. A clay pigeon target support, comprising: aresilient open ring formed of carbon steel spring wire and configured toprovide resilient support to grip a clay pigeon target around an outeror inner diameter of a circular ridge disposed on one face of the claypigeon target; and first and second ends of the resilient open ringdisposed substantially along radii of the resilient open ring separatedby an acute angle of at least 10 degrees; wherein the first end of theresilient open ring is extended outward from the first end along aradius of the resilient open ring toward a distal end thereof to form afirst support member; and spring tension exerted by the resilient openring upon the clay pigeon target clamps the clay pigeon target withinthe resilient open ring.
 11. The clay pigeon target support of claim 10,wherein: the resilient open ring and the first support member are formedfrom a single length of the carbon steel spring wire having across-section dimension ranging between 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch.
 12. Theclay pigeon target support of claim 10, wherein: the distal end of thefirst support member includes a hook formed to enable hanging the claypigeon target support from a limb of a tree, bush, or other object. 13.The clay pigeon target support of claim 10, wherein: the distal end ofthe first support member includes a blade disposed lateral to thelongitudinal axis of the first support member to resist rotation of thesupport member when inserted into the earth.
 14. The clay pigeon targetsupport of claim 10, wherein: a logo panel is attached to the firstsupport member between the resilient open ring and the distal end;wherein a company logo, mark or other symbol may be attached to the logopanel.
 15. The clay pigeon target support of claim 10, wherein: thesecond end of the resilient open ring is extended outward from thesecond end along a radius of the resilient open ring toward a distal endthereof to form a second support member.